Quantcast
Channel: Help & How To
Viewing all 5861 articles
Browse latest View live

How to connect the Microsoft Band with HealthVault & other services

0
0

The Microsoft Band is not widely available, but lucky owners got treated to an update earlier this week. Some of the new features include the Bike Tile, virtual keyboard, Quick Read, and much more. It also lets Microsoft Band users integrate their data with two additional services: HealthVault and MapMyFitness. The Microsoft Band originally included just two integrated services: RunKeeper and MyFitnessPal. We'll show you how to integrate your Microsoft Band with these services.

Microsoft Health

  1. Open Microsoft Health app on your phone
  2. Tap the menu button on the top left corner
  3. Tap Connected Apps
  4. Tap the Connect button under HealthVault or any of the other integrated services

That's it! You'll be asked to log in depending on what service you've selected. With HealthVault, you can sign in with a Microsoft account, Facebook, or OpenID.

Microsoft Health

Microsoft HealthVault (healthvault.com) lets users organize their health information in one place, and helps them gather, store, use, and share information and records with their healthcare providers. By integrating with the service, the data from Microsoft Health is automatically uploaded to the HealthVault account, including workout and sleep data. It may be a little confusing because Microsoft Health and Microsoft HealthVault are two different things. Keep in mind that you do not have to connect with HealthVault to access the new Microsoft Health dashboard (dashboard.microsofthealth.com).

The other integrated service introduced in the latest update is MapMyFitness. It's a fitness tracking social network that lets users know where they're going and where they've been. There are over 20 million members. The integration saves and uploads your workout data from the Microsoft Band to MapMyFitness.com.

We're glad to see more services that can connect with the Microsoft Band. Are there any others that you would like to see on the list? Let us know in the comments!


How to take a screenshot on the Xbox One

0
0

Xbox One screenshot

The Xbox One finally has a feature many have been screaming for: the ability to take a screenshot. Here's how to take them and what you can do with them after.

Firstly you'll need to have downloaded the March system update. So, if you didn't get it yet, open up the Settings app, look under system and you should see a prompt for a system update to install.

After that, there's two ways you can take a screenshot within your games. It doesn't yet seem to work for the Xbox One dashboard.

  • If you have a Kinect simply say "Xbox, take a screenshot."
  • If you don't have a Kinect, double-tap the Xbox button on the controller and now along with options to record and snap/unsnap apps, you'll see a new option telling you to press the Y button to take a screenshot.

Images will be automatically saved in Upload alongside your Game DVR clips. So, once you've taken them, what can you do with them? Well, a few things actually, opened up by pressing the Menu button on the controller.

  • Like
  • Send to OneDrive
  • Tweet the image
  • Share to Activity Feed
  • Send as message
  • Add to Showcase
  • Save the image
  • Set the image as your Dashboard background

The images save as Full HD, 1920x1080 resolution PNG files. If you're looking for them in OneDrive, head into the default Pictures folder and a new sub-folder will have been created called "Xbox Screenshots"

That's all there is to it! In no time at all you'll be sharing all your own in-game images with friends, family and complete strangers!

Sample Xbox One screenshot

Third-party app now lets you change the language on the Microsoft Band

0
0

Not in the US and want to alter the language on your Microsoft Band (that you likely ordered off of eBay)? Then good news as our favorite app Pimp My Band is now in version 1.8 after numerous smaller updates over the last few weeks.

Today's addition brings the ability to switch languages, including French, German, Italian or Spanish, as well as UK or US English variants.  The feature is found near the bottom, where 'Tweaks' was introduced a few weeks ago.

Microsoft has been quiet about international plans, noting that they will head into other regions, eventually. The US is serving as a testing-ground for the Band before Microsoft commits to a larger launch as noted by Microsoft's Joe Belfiore back in October.

For those who are too eager to wait, buying the Microsoft Band off of friends in the US or on bidding sites appear to the only way now to get the seemingly popular tracker. At least now you get greater language support.

Pimp My Band is a fantastic companion app for Microsoft Band owners. The app lets users customize the Me Tile image with one of their own, use monochrome images, customize accent colors, and even change the color of app tiles, like Facebook or Twitter.

Usually Pimp My Band is 99 cents for now, the Store is showing the app as free.

Download Pimp My Band for Windows Phone 8.1

QR: pimp

Here is how to enable Cortana's Lifestyle and Fitness Tracker interest

0
0

Cortana Lifestyle interest for Fitness

The Cortana team has been rolling out new Interests to Cortana's Notebook for a few weeks now. One of them is the Lifestyle category, with Fitness Tracker as the particular class. (The other new interest is Showtimes + Trailers).

Many of Cortana's characteristics and interests do not roll out to users all at once. Instead, Microsoft tends to push it out slowly, gauging feedback and usage. Lifestyle though is an interesting one: it appears that you can get the interest to show up by merely saving a favorite place as 'Gym'.

If you are unsure on how to save places as favorites, follow these steps to get the Lifestyle interest in Cortana

Cortana save Favorite Place

How to enable Lifestyle and Fitness Tracker in Cortana

  1. Search for business/gym in Cortana 
  2. Tap the name of the found business 
  3. Tap the '+Star' icon near the bottom to add to Favorites 
  4. Nickname the location 'Gym' 

It could take Cortana a few hours before the Lifestyle interest shows up. To check, just follow these directions:

Cortana Fitness Tracker

Check for new interests in Cortana

  1. Launch Cortana 
  2. Tap the hamburger menu (upper right corner) 
  3. Interests 
  4. Tap the '+' near the bottom 
  5. Scroll until you see 'lifestyle' 

It is not 100% clear if this is a regionally restricted feature or if this works for everyone. We tried it on our phone, and it did work, hence this article.

Unfortunately, we have not exactly seen what the Fitness Tracker does, since we tend to hit the gym five to six days a week, ahem. Presumably, Cortana reminds you if you have not gone for some time and to hit the racks again. Additionally, it would be interesting to see if the personal assistant gives any other fitness tips.

Update: @sayonical has tweeted us an image of what happens with Cortana if you miss a workout. See above. Despite the calendar reference, you do not need to schedule a workout. Cortana instead decides this on location and frequency of gym visits.

For more information, hop into the Cortana Lounge forums!

Thanks to Likwidz for some of the screen caps

How to check for OS updates on your Windows Phone

0
0

With all the talk about updates rolling out for Windows Phone 8.1.1 in various markets, checking to see an update is available for your Windows Phone is easy.

More times than not you will receive a pop-up message alerting you that an update is ready to install to your Windows Phone. However, if you want to check on your own, everything you need is in the Phone's Settings.

How to check for OS updates Windows Phone

Check for new OS update

  1. Settings (Swipe down for Action Center, choose 'All Settings')
  2. Phone Update (you will need to scroll down the page a bit)
  3. Check for Updates (tap the button)

If an update is ready for your phone on the server, it will start to download.

During the installation, the phone will reboot several times. This reboot is normal and part of the installation/restore feature. Once completed, the phone will automatically check again for more updates. On occasion, there is more than one OS or firmware update needed. If this is the case, the device will repeat the download/installation cycle until there are no remaining updates left.

Caution: It is highly recommended to be on a Wi-Fi connection with a phone that has a least 50% charge in the battery. This requirement is because some OS updates can be a few hundred megabytes in size and may not download over your carrier data connection.

Installation can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes (or more) depending on various factors, including: size of the update, speed of the CPU and how much data needs to be backed up and restored.

Miscellaneous

The settings under Phone Update has a few options that include:

  • Check for updates
  • Tell me when updates are available
  • Automatically download updates if my settings allow
  • Preferred install time

If you don't care for the pop-up alerts on Windows Phone updates, you can turn those notifications off. Alternatively, if you prefer everything is done automatically, you can also set a time when you want to automatically update the Phone.

Preferred install time refers to when the OS update should be applied to your phone. The phone can download the update and hold onto it until a desired time when you will not be using the phone. This prevents downtime during the OS update where you may miss a phone call. The default is 3 AM, although you can choose any time you wish. If an update is found, it will be installed at this selected time. However, users can override this by selecting "Install now" once the update is downloaded to the device.

Should you be enrolled in the Preview for Developers or Windows Insider programs, you will follow the same steps to check for updates. However, in rare cases, the OS update for your phone may be older than the Preview version, in which case you will need to disable the Preview for Developers program through the corresponding app.

Related:

How to unlock your Windows Phone for app development

0
0

In order to develop Windows Phone applications you first need to take care of some pre-requisites. One of those is having a developer account and one of those is having a developer unlocked phone. Fortunately it's really simple to get started on that first step towards making something wonderful.

Follow these steps and you'll be preparing both yourself and your device for app development.

Sign up for a developer account

Before you can make and publish apps you need to have a developer account with Microsoft. You need the account to be able to publish your creations to the Windows Phone Store, which, presumably is on your mind. Visit the link below and get started for free.

Install the Windows Phone SDK

The tools to develop for Windows Phone are contained within Visual Studio so that's what you're going to need to download. There are a couple of different versions, but visit the link below and take a look at which is most suitable for you. Always make sure you download the latest version with the latest updates.

Windows Phone developer unlock

After this there's a few simple steps to follow to prepare your device to deploy your apps to.

  • Once the Visual Studio package has finished installing, you want to find the "Windows Phone developer registration" program.
  • Open it.
  • Connect your Windows Phone to the computer.
  • The program should automatically recognize it.
  • When you a clickable button labelled "Register," click it.
  • Log in to your developer account when prompted.
  • The registration will begin and if successful you'll see "Congratulations! You have successfully unlocked your Windows Phone."
  • Each account can unlock three phones. If you need to change this up then you'll be able to remove registered devices in the developer portal on the web.

That's all there is to it. Now you're a registered developer with an unlocked device on which to try out your creations!

Here is how to get Pebble smartwatch notifications to work on Windows Phone

0
0

Pebble, Cortana and Windows Phone

Pebble is arguably one of the most important smartwatch brands available to consumers these days. Indeed, the private company has been very successful in raising money for its new Pebble Time device, suggesting that the company has some legs.

However, Pebble and Windows Phones are two things that do not match. We detailed the story of the failed attempt at bringing the Pebble app to Windows Phone before so today we want to talk about that 'demo' app for notifications.

We will also tell you where you can get it and how it works in our hands-on video.

Hands on video of Pebble Connect

First discovered a few weeks ago, the app is an internal beta used for testing Windows Phone notifications with a Pebble smartwatch. It does not have more advanced features like access to the Pebble Store (for installing apps), music controls and more.

However, it can hook into your Windows Phone notification system to alert you to phone calls, email, general notifications, even when music stops/start playing (the 'Media' option).

And yes, it runs in the background.

Can I download it from the Store?

Unfortunately, since it is a private beta, none of us have permission to download it to our phones. Many people have noticed the 'Download and install manually' option, but this too will not work for sideloading due to restrictions placed on the APPX.

But, there is a way. Here's how.

Sideloading the modified Pebble Connect app

Luckily, through various friends, we have found a way to remove those restrictions. As a result, we have a modified version of the Pebble Connect APPX.

This version can be sideloaded to any Windows Phone 8.1 device using the Windows Phone SDK. Through the SDK, you can developer unlock your phone and manually install ('sideload') the APPX to your phone.

To learn how to developer unlock your Windows Phone, please read our tutorial.

Read: How to Developer Unlock your Windows Phone

Download the modified Pebble Connect APPX file

To grab the modified APPX file for Pebble Connect, simply hit the link up below. Note: this file will only be available for 48 hours, after that, it is up to you what happens to it!

You will need to download this to a PC with the Windows Phone 8.1 SDK and Developers tool installed. Copying directly to your Windows Phone and using local apps will not work.

Using Pebble Connect

Once installed, you want to launch the Pebble Connect app. You should see a warning about it not being able to run in the background due to its task being disabled. To solve this, follow these steps:

  1. Settings 
  2. Battery Saver 
  3. Usage 
  4. Choose 'Pebble Connect Beta' 
  5. Enable 'Allow app to run in the background' 

Now, you need to pair the Pebble with your Windows Phone (you could also do this step earlier, the ordering does not matter)

Paring your Pebble to Windows Phone

  1. Put Pebble into pairing mode (middle button, settings, Bluetooth) 
  2. On Windows Phone: Settings, Bluetooth 
  3. Your Pebble should eventually show up in the list of devices (it can take some time) 
  4. Tap to pair, follow the instructions 

Once completed, close out the Pebble Connect Beta app and re-launch it. You should no longer see the error message about it running in the background. Instead, you should have an 'allow access to notifications' dialog. Hit 'Agree' and you should now see the Log screen and the Pebble Connect app finding your Pebble.

Pebble Media Alert

A few more things

Just to be clear, this app is only for notifications on your Windows Phone.

  • Cannot install Pebble apps 
  • Cannot install new watch faces 
  • Cannot control music (although there are some media notifications) 

In that sense, Pebble Connect is only partially useful to Windows Phone users. However, if you already have a Pebble that is sitting around, it just became much more helpful to you. At the very least, you can have this app until hopefully someday, Pebble comes around again to Windows Phone.

How to fix Mail, Calendar, and People apps in Windows 10 Preview Build 10041

0
0

Windows 10 mail people calendar

We're playing around with the latest Windows 10 Preview Build 10041 and immediately noticed that Mail, Calendar, and People apps are broken. According to Microsoft, this is due to a licensing issue with the Store Beta. Fortunately, there is a quick fix. We'll show you how to do it in just a few steps.

First, you need to open Powershell as administrator. You can do this by tapping on Cortana and typing powershell. Tap and hold, or right-click on Powershell to display the option to run the app as administrator.

Run administrator

The next step is to enter this command in Powershell. This code is provided in Microsoft's blog post. You will get an error if you enter the code while Powershell is NOT in administrator mode:

  • Get-appxprovisionedpackage –online | where-object {$_.packagename –like "*windowscommunicationsapps*"} | remove-appxprovisionedpackage –online

Powershell

You can then close Powershell and re-install Mail, People and Calendar from the Store with the green tile. This will not work with the Store (Beta) using a grey tile.

Mail, People and Calendar apps started working again after following these steps and restarting the computer. We'll spend more time with the newly released Windows 10 Preview Build 10041 and share anything else that might be interesting. In the meantime, you can check out our gallery of screenshots from the new build.

This build brings a collection of new functionality and bug fixes. Some of the noticeable new features include transparent Start screen, improvements to Virtual Desktop, network fly-out from the taskbar, new text input canvas, and more. Keep in mind that this is still a Preview. The UI is coming together slowly, but there's still a lot of work to do.

Have you been playing with the latest Windows 10 Preview build? Do you have a favorite new feature? Sound off in the comments!


Easily get rid of duplicate tracks in your Xbox Music library

0
0

Xbox Music

Now that it's possible to add our own, personal music collections to Xbox Music using OneDrive, we run into the potential problem of duplicate tracks. If you upload a song or album you already have in your Xbox Music library, it's unlikely you want it to show up twice. Fortunately, there's a really easy way to get rid of the duplicates.

  • Sign in to your Xbox Music account on the web at music.xbox.com
  • Click on your name in the top right hand corner
  • Open "Settings"
  • You'll now see a toggle that when activated will remove any tracks you added with your Xbox Music Pass that you've subsequently uploaded yourself through OneDrive.
  • In the Xbox Music app for Windows 8.1 the same applies. just open settings and look under "preferences."
  • A word of warning for anyone who uses Xbox Music on Android or iOS, however, that you're told not to activate this. Something to bear in mind.

You can still manually go through your account removing tracks, albums and playlists. But, if you want to remove anything you uploaded you'll need to do that still through OneDrive.

How to access your music collection from OneDrive with Xbox Music

0
0

OneDrive Xbox Music

In case you missed it, Microsoft has started allowing Xbox Music users to store personal music collection on OneDrive. You can add your MP3s to OneDrive and play them on your PC, phone, and Xbox. It's really simple. Upload your music files to the new "Music" folder in OneDrive and that music will magically appear in the Xbox Music apps for Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1, as well as on your Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Watch our how-to video for more details.

Here are the 3 simple steps:

  1. Open your OneDrive Music folder from the web or via the OneDrive app.
  2. Upload your favorite MP3s from your hard drive to the OneDrive Music folder.
  3. Open your Xbox Music application on your PC, Windows Phone, Xbox, or the web with the same Microsoft Account you used in OneDrive. Your OneDrive music files will now be listed as songs in your collection.

OneDrive Music

If you are not seeing your files, make sure you have accepted the Xbox Terms of Use. You can add music files in MP3, M4A (AAC), and WMA formats. You can currently add up to 50,000 songs to your collection. The OneDrive integration is currently not supported by Xbox Music for iOS and Android. If you have an Xbox Music Pass and use iOS or Android, the OneDrive content will not show up.

Xbox Music

It's also worth noting that only songs in the Music folder on OneDrive are added to the collection. All music on OneDrive saved in a different folder location will not be added to the Xbox Music collection. If you want to remove songs from the collection, take out the files from the Music folder.

How do you feel about this new feature from Xbox Music? How big is your collection? Let us know in the comments!

How to pin settings to the Start screen with Windows 10 Preview build 10041

0
0

Windows 10 pin settings

The latest build of Windows 10 Preview, 10041, lets you pin settings to the Start screen. It's quite simple, and it reminds us of a new feature on Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2, which also lets you pin individual settings to the Start screen. Whenever you are in a settings page like System, Network, or Time & language, take a look at the top right corner. You should see a pin icon. Tapping it creates a shortcut on your Start Screen. Need visual aid? Watch our quick how-to video.

You can go to settings by swiping from the right edge of the screen and tapping 'All Settings.' Tap any of the individual settings until you see the pin icon on the top right corner. If the setting is already pinned to the Start screen, it becomes an unpin icon. Tapping it removes the setting from the Start screen.

There's more to discover with Windows 10 Preview build 10041. Have you installed it on your machine? What setting will you pin to the Start screen? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks for the tip, Michael S.!

How to back up all of your Instagram photos automagically using IFTTT and OneDrive

0
0

The first video in a series of "60 Second Productivity Hacks, Tips and Insights on How to Get more Out of Our Everyday Technology Tools and Platforms" appeared today on the official Microsoft Lumia youtube channel.

The series of BrainCandy videos is being produced in partnership between Microsoft and CrowdCentric. Each week, BrainCandy will release a new Microsoft video featuring little-known tech tips, tricks and hacks to help digital professionals and consumers live better and work smarter.

The topic of the first video is on how to automatically back up your Instagram photos to OneDrive using a little IFTTT magic in between.

While tips and tricks are regular content for us to cover here at Windows Central, it's great to see Microsoft put out some content like this, that has appeal beyond just Windows Phone users. We'll keep our eyes peeled for the next videos to be released and be sure to post them on the site. I'm curious to see what they cover in the series (I have to say, it's a little ironic that the first video focuses on Instagram, with it now being just over one year since the Instagram Beta has received an update... but I digress).

What did you think of video? Any specific topics you think they should cover in this 60 second form?

Thanks to Malben D for letting us know!

Source: Youtube, CrowdCentric

How to send voice messages on the Xbox One

0
0

If you're on the Xbox One preview program, you are now able to send voice messages in the messages app. This feature should be able to everyone else very soon. You can quickly and easily record audio to send to your friends or others through the snapped messages app. It's really easy. Watch our how-to video to see it in action.

  1. Double tap the Xbox button on your controller.
  2. Choose Snap an app and select Messages
  3. Click New message
  4. Select a friend (or more) to send a message to.
  5. The keyboard shows up to let you type a message, but you can back out by pressing the B button on your controller.
  6. Click the new microphone option.
  7. Hit Start recording to create your message and hit Stop when you're done.
  8. You can listen to your recording, re-record, or send.
  9. That's it!

It's great to see the audio waveform of your recording. It's a visual guide to let you know if you're too loud or if the microphone isn't working.

Xbox One Voice Messages

Voice messaging isn't the only new feature coming to the Xbox One April system update. It also includes game hub links, more detailed achievement notifications, dedicated servers for party chat, and improvements to the What's On area. What's On will also be expanded to Canada and the UK. You can read all about the system update for more details.

It's worth pointing out that right now it seems that you need to be on the preview build to open the voice messages. On our consoles on the regular public build, we're not able to open them yet.

If you're not on the Xbox One Preview Program yet, you can ask for invites below. The Windows Central community is usually very helpful with that. If you have friends that are already in the program, they can invite you by using the Invite friends page in the Xbox Preview Dashboard app.

Update: Some comments have asked about using the Kinect sensor for sending a voice message: Yes, the system does support this function, although you need to enable Kinect-for-chat in settings first!

What do you think of the new voice messaging feature? Will you be using it more frequently than typing with the onscreen keyboard? Let us know in the comments!

Quick tip: Easily enable or disable Adobe Flash Player in Project Spartan

0
0

Project Spartan

Adobe Flash Player is one of those things that we'd probably be better without, yet at the same time can't disown completely. Fortunately, with Project Spartan in Windows 10, Microsoft is making it super simple to turn Flash Player on or off, depending on whether you actually need or want it running. Here's how.

  • Click the three dots in the top right hand corner
  • Click "Settings"
  • Scroll down almost to the very bottom
  • Under "Add-ons" you'll see a toggle switch to enable or disable Adobe Flash Player
  • Switch to your desired position and you're done!

For more coverage of Project Spartan be sure to visit our dedicated page here

How to use task view and virtual desktops in Windows 10 Technical Preview

0
0

Windows 10 Task View

One of my favorite features on Windows 10 Technical Preview is task view. By swiping from the left side of the screen, I can see all the open apps and quickly switch as needed. Windows 10 goes a step further with virtual desktops. This lets you group apps in multiple desktops. For example, you can place Outlook, Twitter, and the web browser in one desktop, while you have Netflix in another desktop. The organization is up to you. See how it works in our how-to video.

There are several ways to bring up Task View. You can swipe from the left edge of the screen, tap the task view button on the task bar, or press the Windows + Tab keys on the keyboard. You can also swipe up on the trackpad with three fingers.

While Task View is open, you can create a new desktop by tapping the new desktop button on the lower right corner. You can also drag apps to that area. Once you have created multiple desktops, they appear in Task View at the bottom as Desktop 1, Desktop 2, Desktop 3, etc. You can drag apps from one desktop to another. Have a keyboard? You can also create a new desktop by pressing Win + Ctrl + D.

Windows 10 Virtual Desktop

There are several ways to switch between desktops. You can bring up Task View (see above), and then tap the desktop you want to see. Another way is by using the keyboard. You can quickly switch between virtual desktops by pressing Win + Ctrl + Left or Right. I haven't found a similar gesture with the trackpad or the touchscreen.

I love Task View and the virtual desktops on Windows 10. They make me feel more productive and organized. Do you feel the same? Sound off in the comments!


How to uninstall apps on Windows 10

0
0

Windows 10 uninstall

The Windows 10 Technical Preview is progressing along nicely. It's getting more user-friendly after every update and I've become comfortable using it on my main Windows device, the Surface Pro 3. As new users try out the new OS, some newbie questions might arise. An example would be how to uninstall apps on Windows 10? There are actually several ways to do it. Watch our how-to video to find out.

The simplest way to uninstall apps is from the Start screen. Press the Windows logo on your keyboard or the tap the icon on the screen. At the Start screen, tap and hold the app's tile you want to uninstall. Tap the three dots at the lower right corner, select more options, and then uninstall. It's also easier with a mouse or trackpad. Just right click on a tile and then select uninstall. Some apps can't be removed, so you might not see the uninstall option.

Windows 10 uninstall apps

There's another way to uninstall apps that might not be too obvious. Swipe in from the right side of the screen and tap 'All settings.' Select System and then tap Apps & features. You can sort the list of apps by size, name, or install date. If you would like to uninstall an app, select it from the list and then tap or click the uninstall button.

Windows 10 apps list

While you're on the apps and features page, you can also manage optional features. Tap or click that option on top to see a list of features. There are several features related to text input and prediction on my Surface Pro 3. Select an item and tap or click the uninstall button.

That's it! That's how to uninstall apps on Windows 10 Technical Preview. The easiest way to do it is from the Start screen, but the settings page gives you sorting options.

How do you like the Windows 10 Preview so far? It keeps getting better, right?

Productivity Tip: How to manage customer support on the go with Skype

0
0

The second video in a series of "60 Second Productivity Hacks, Tips and Insights on How to Get more Out of Our Everyday Technology Tools and Platforms" just popped up on the official Microsoft Lumia youtube channel (in case you missed the first video related to using IFTTT to automatically backup Instagram photos to OneDrive, you can watch it here).

I actually learned something new from today's tip, which focuses on allowing a website owner to embed a Skype button on their site, making it easy for site/store owners to provide customer support via Skype even while on the go. Be sure to watch the video for the step by step details. After watching this, it makes me think we should add a Skype Call button to our Windows Central Store customer support page. As a customer, would you use the Skype button over an email or a standard phone call?

Source: Youtube, CrowdCentric

How to automatically upload your photos and videos to OneDrive from Windows Phone 8.1

0
0

Auto upload OneDrive

There are several reasons to save your photos and video online. One reason could be you're running out of storage on your device. Another reason is having a backup in case your phone breaks. Whatever the reason may be, Windows Phone 8.1 can automatically save the photos and videos you take to OneDrive. Setting it up is fast and easy. Watch our how-to video.

  1. Go to Settings and swipe left for applications
  2. Tap photos + camera
  3. Scroll down to Auto upload and tap OneDrive
  4. Select Best Quality for photos and videos

That's it! Your photos and videos will only be uploaded when you're connected to a Wi-Fi network. You can view your photos and videos online at onedrive.live.com on your browser or by using the OneDrive app, which is available on multiple platforms.

Do you automatically back up your photos and videos to OneDrive? Let us know in the comments!

Watch Cortana learn my voice on Windows 10 Technical Preview

0
0

Cortana Learn My Voice

We love Cortana on our Windows Phone, and we're going to love her on Windows PCs and tablets, too. If you are already running Windows 10 Technical Preview, then you can already try it out. In recent builds, a new option has shown up to help Cortana learn your voice. This makes it easier for her to initiate the 'Hey Cortana' function. Watch her in action in our hands-on video.

Here's how to find the 'Learn my voice' option:

  1. Tap the Cortana search form and tap the hamburger button on the top left corner
  2. Select settings
  3. Scroll down and tap 'learn my voice'
  4. Find a quiet place and tap begin.

Cortana gives you three phrases to repeat so she can get familiar with your voice:

  1. Hey Cortana, do I have anything on Saturday?
  2. Hey Cortana, what's the traffic like on the way to work?
  3. Hey Cortana, tell something about yourself.

That's it! It should now be easier for her to recognize your voice when you say Hey Cortana. The command brings her up without physically touching your device.

Are you looking forward to using Cortana on your Windows PC or tablet? Are you using it already on Windows 10 Preview? Sound off in the comments!

How to use Quick Access on Windows 10 Technical Preview

0
0

Quick Access Windows 10

When you open File Explorer on Windows 10 Technical Preview, it opens to Quick Access by default. Think of Quick Access as a section where you can place shortcuts to your favorite folders. It also displays recently viewed files and frequently used folders by default. We'll show you how to use Quick Access and what checkboxes to uncheck if you're concerned about other people seeing your most frequently viewed folder. See it in action in our how-to video.

Pin folders to Quick Access

Pinning folders to Quick Access is very easy. Just right-click or tap-and-hold a folder and select "Pin to quick access." These folders become more easily accessible since they'll be among the first folders you see when you open File Explorer.

Unpinning folders is just as easy. Just right-click or tap-and-hold a pinned folder and then select "Unpin from Quick access."

Disable recently viewed files and/or frequently used folders

By default, your recently viewed files and frequently used folders show up in Quick Access. Anyone who borrows your computer and opens up File Explorer will be able to see these things. Fortunately there are a couple of settings you can turn off to prevent that from happening. While you're File Explorer, tap or click View and then Options. Take a look at the privacy options at the bottom. You can disable showing recently used files and/or frequently used folders. You can also delete your File Explorer history by tapping or clicking the clear button.

Quick Access Windows 10

Disable Quick Access

Don't like opening File Explorer to Quick Access by default? You can change it back to the old way. While in File Explorer, tap or click View and then Options. Take a look at the option that says "Open File Explorer to." Instead of Quick Access, you can change to This PC. You'll still have access to Quick Access on the sidebar, but File Explorer won't open it by default.

File Explorer Quick access

What's your setup?

I like File Explorer opening Quick Access by default. I pin my favorite folders so they're more accessible on my Surface Pro 3. I like it more than opening to "This PC" by default. I'm not a fan of showing my recent files and frequent folders, so I've turned both of those settings off. How do you feel about Quick Access on Windows 10 Preview? Let us know in the comments!

Viewing all 5861 articles
Browse latest View live


Latest Images